Software Engineer / Astronomer

Software Engineer / Astronomer

Salary: £39,748 to £44,166 per annum. An additional annual allowance of up to £4000 is also available for this role.  

Contract Type: Open Ended.

Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh.

We currently have a great opportunity for a software engineer to join us at the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UKATC). We are looking for someone with a background in astronomy, utilising this knowledge to connect with the projects you are working on and understand the needs of the end users. This role will be initially focused on software development for the Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA), a world-class radio interferometer.

About this opportunity:

The UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) crafts and builds ground-breaking instrumentation for the world’s major observatories. Our projects are multi-disciplinary and international in nature, carried out by collaborative teams from leading international astronomical institutes.

As a software engineer at the UK ATC, you will have the opportunity to play a leading role in developing software for the next generation of astronomical instruments and telescopes. Your initial role will be to join the international teams designing and implementing software for the ALMA data processing pipeline and the ALMA Observing Tool. Your knowledge and experience of the astronomy will help the teams deliver software that meets the needs of the ALMA observatory. You will also have opportunities to contribute more broadly to the wider activities at the UK ATC. As a senior software engineer within the Software Engineering Group, you will have opportunities to innovate and decide the technical direction of your projects, and to develop new technical solutions.

Your responsibilities in this role will include:

• Taking software through the complete software lifecycle, from analysis, requirements capture and design through to implementation, test, and delivery.
• Supporting Software Engineering Group and UK ATC engineers with your specialist knowledge and experience.
• Working closely with international colleagues on large international projects.
• Contributing to design studies, small projects, proposals for new projects as required.

We are looking for someone with:

• An excellent knowledge of astronomy or astrophysics.
• A good knowledge of modern software development processes.
• Experience using Python, Java, Javascript/Typescript, C++, or similar OO languages.
• Proven track record to work proactively and collaboratively as part of a team, ideally in an agile software development context.

Employee Benefits:

We are offering a permanent position that provides a whole host of benefits including; 30 days holiday (in addition to bank holidays), an excellent pension scheme, employee shopping/travel discounts, a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme, plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance. Within this post there will be opportunities for professional development courses, both through STFC and support of other training that will help your career development.

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are invested in creating an environment that is welcoming and supportive of all, to help us achieve the highest possible standards in our work and organisation together. In this regard, we encourage applications from under-represented groups.

How to apply:

In your application, please provide your CV and a cover letter which showcases your skills and experience in relation to the criteria we have set for this role. Closing Date is 20th March 2022.